18 inches long with a 43 inch wingspan. In all plumages the Northern Harrier has a white rump, long thin wings, a long barred tail, and an owl-like facial disk. Adult males are gray above and mostly white below with variable chestnut spotting. Their wing tips are black. The adult female is brown above and whitish below with heavy streaking on the breast and flanks and lighter streaking/spotting on the belly. Juveniles resemble the female but have cinnamon below.
The Northern Harrier is an uncommon bird in the Forest but may be seen at any time during the year.
The Northern Harrier used to called a Marsh Hawk. Harriers generally perch low on fence posts or on the ground. They fly low over the ground with their wings in a “V” in buoyant flight while looking and listening for prey. Mostly silent but call is a shrill “kek,kek,kek”.
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